Speed indicator and signal



Feb. 7,1939. A, H PROVENZANO 2,146,349

SPEED INDICATOR AND SIGNAL Original Filed July 24, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l nalyEjDI/ezalrajNvENToR ATTORNEY Feb. 7,1939. D A HV PROVENZANO 2,146,349

SPEED INDICATOR AND SIGNAL Original Filed July 24, 1934 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Reiled for abandoned application Serial No. 736,730, July 24, 1934. This application July 7, 1936, Serial No. 89,424

1 Claim.

The invention relates to a speed indicator and signal and more especially to speed indicating devices for use on motor vehicles.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein through the medium of variable colored signals, the operator of the motor vehicle or a pedestrain will be able to approximate the speed of travel of the said vehicle and thus warning the operator lo of the vehicle at intervals when exceeding speed limits at which the vehicle is traveling.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein the same is of novel construction and through the medium of an equalizer the said device will operate steadily and accurately and in the use thereof the operator of the vehicle and pedestrians will have cognizance of the approximate speed of travel of the vehicle, as the operator of y.) the vehicle, through an indicator, will know the speed at which the vehicle is traveling, and also through the medium of signals such speed can be determined at a glance and thus the said operator will have dual indication, with the result that the vehicle can be held within certain speed limits for avoiding disobedience of traiiic regulations.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein eflicient indications of speed travel of a vehicle will be had through the medium, of different colored lights, these being conveniently arranged at any desired point upon the vehicle for the purpose of observation by the public or for the observation of the driver of the Vehicle in order to enable him to determine as to the approximate speed at which the vehicle is traveling.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and eiiicient in its operation, automatic in the working thereof, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the in- 5 Vention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention,

and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

This application is a substitution for aban- (ligned application, S. N. 736,730, filed July 24,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure lis a fragmentary elevation of the governor control circuit closer employed in the speed-indicating device.

Figure 2 is a sectional View taken on the line 3 3 of Figure l looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View on the line 5 5 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a plan view of one of the signal 10 boxes.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the indicator of the device.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in is the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally a motor vehicle, in this instance, of the passenger or pleasure type and of standard construction. Adapted to be arranged upon Q0 this vehicle A, preferably upon the front and rear fenders thereof, are the signal boxes ID and II, respectively, although they may be otherwise arranged at the option of the user of the device. Each box includes preferably a circular housing 25 I2 having a front I3 provided at the center and concentrically of the center light emitting lenses I4, these in their group being colored differently from each other so as to be distinguished one from the other. The signal box I0 at the front 30 of the vehicle A is double faced and its rear panel I3 faces rearwardly so as to be visible to an operator when occupying the drivers seat within the vehicle and its front panel I 3 is visible to pedestrians from the front of the vehicle, while 3- the box I I at the rear of the vehicle is visible to pedestrians from the rear only of the vehicle.

Located upon the dashboard interiorly of the body of the vehicle A at a convenient location for visibility by the driver of the vehicle is an indicator including a casing I5 and extended into this casing is a driven shaft I6 operated from the power shaft of the vehicle, the shaft I6 interiorly of the casing I5 being journaled, at Il, in a bracket I8 supporting a ball governor I9, its 45 rotary arbor 20 being connected through the companion pinion 2I and gear 22 with the shaft I6. The governor I9 operates, through the medium of its shiftable sleeve 23 upon the arbor 20, an indicator pointer or hand 24 pivoted at 25 50 and extended through an arcuate slot 26 in the front of the casing I5 to coact with a scale 2l indicative of speeds of determined number of miles per hour. This scale also is supplemented by a colored chart 28, the colors thereof being 55 alike to the respective colors ofthe lenses I4, so as to identify by signals, through determined colors, the speed of travel ofthe vehicle according to the number of miles per hour traveled by such vehicle. l

Arranged Within the casing l5 is what might be termed 5an equalizer'vcomprising a tensioning spiral clock spring 29 arranged Within the barrel 3Q, one end of the spring' being connected to a Winding arbor 3 I and the other end connected, at 32, to the hand or pointerfZQ, the arbor 3l being adapted for the, connection of a winding Y key 33 for the Winding ofthe spring 29 should it become Weak from continued". use.- vThe key 33 is suitably suspended upona hook ffi'jupon the front of the casing i-a'nd'vis usablefonly by an authorized person, to` have theV spring properly Y tension of the spring 29 for accuracy in the Working of the device. If the occasion should arise to bring the indicator to inactive position it is necessary to disengage the gear 22 from the gear 2l or reset the indicator through the medium of a clutch (not shown) interposed in the shaft IB.

' What is claimed is:

A speed indicator fora motor Vehicle having 

